By Sumayya
NEW YORK, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian answered a question about nuclear weapons in three words. According to US broadcaster Fox News, the Iranian president made Tehran’s position clear when asked directly whether Iran wanted an atomic bomb.
“No, absolutely not,” Pezeshkian replied. During the United Nations General Assembly session, Fox news senior journalist Bret Baier asked the Iranian president direct questions about Iran’s nuclear programme.
Pezeshkian clearly denied any desire to build or acquire nuclear weapons, saying Iran had never intended to obtain them. Explaining his position, the Iranian president said Iran’s religious leaders had declared weapons of mass destruction religiously prohibited.
He said Iran therefore did not want to pursue the development of nuclear weapons. However, the key aspect of the interview was not only Pezeshkian’s denial regarding an atomic bomb. He also made a notable offer concerning Iran’s enriched uranium and international inspections.
The Iranian president said Tehran was prepared to further reduce or “dilute” its enriched nuclear material and accept international verification. Pezeshkian said Iran could take steps regarding its nuclear programme while remaining within the framework of international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
He also indicated that Iran could discuss reducing its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent. According to Fox News, the Iranian president was also asked why Iran had stored uranium enriched to 60 percent at secure locations if it did not want a nuclear bomb.
Pezeshkian replied that Iran was ready to reduce the material and accept international monitoring. The development comes as serious disagreements continue between the United States and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Washington has long expressed concern over Iran’s nuclear activities, while Tehran maintains that its programme is for peaceful purposes and that it has the right to acquire peaceful nuclear technology. In the interview, Pezeshkian also indicated that room remained for diplomatic negotiations with the United States.
He said Iran was ready for talks and an agreement, but Tehran believed any understanding should be based on international law and mutual trust. The Iranian president said Washington had chosen military action instead of negotiations.
According to Pezeshkian, Iran did not want war and was willing to pursue a diplomatic path to end the conflict. President Pezeshkian’s remarks came two days after his speech at the United Nations General Assembly.
Addressing the assembly, he had also said that Iran did not want nuclear weapons but was not prepared to abandon peaceful nuclear technology. He criticised what he called the international community’s “double standards” regarding Iran’s nuclear programme. President Pezeshkian said Iran did not want to continue the war and that the United States had to decide whether it wanted to end the conflict.
The Iranian president blamed the United States for the war that had continued in the middle East for approximately 7 months. During the interview, the Iranian president said: “We have no problem.
We had reached an agreement with your president. Those who signed that agreement had concluded it, and on that basis we are ready to move forward, and we still have the same desire.” Masoud Pezeshkian said the United States had attacked Iran and martyred its respected Supreme Leader, scientists, military commanders and government officials.
He said American presidents had repeatedly reneged on the agreement, not Iran, adding that the entire world had witnessed this.
